If National wins ...

[craic]

Do you have a few dollars to go with that? Or is the courage of your convictions a moveable value?

Premature political obituaries are littered with historical examples where the opposite has occurred. As for National Judith Collins, Paula Bennett and Michael Woodhouse will not( and can not) tolerate the John Key show going on too long, its simply does not align with their political ambitions.
He will go, or be pushed in late 2016 early 2017. As much as this distresses his admirers it will happen. Unrealised political ambition is a toxic thing within parties, National is currently riddled with it. Watch this space.
(PS good to see you posting again)

[Snow Leopard]

Trans Pacific Partnership text available if you want a good read.

Best Wishes
Paper Tiger

[macduffy]

Trans Pacific Partnership text available if you want a good read.

Best Wishes
Paper Tiger

Life's too short for that, tiger!

I'll wait for Jane Kelsey's verdict!

[fungus pudding]

Life's too short for that, tiger!

I'll wait for Jane Kelsey's verdict!

She doesn't need to read it. Obviously an extremely gifted individual. Knew it backwards before it was even drafted.

[Daytr]

So you are accusing Hager of stealing files or documents? Talk about untrue claims. You may need to look closer to home with accusations like that'

You could also ask people like Rodney Hide who had outrageous and untrue claims made about him in Hager's book what they think ! Nicky Hager is not a journalist, he is a thief

[artemis]

So you are accusing Hager of stealing files or documents? Talk about untrue claims. You may need to look closer to home with accusations like that'

Mr Hager may or may not be a thief. Who knows? But I concur - that does not appear to be an accusation on the table at the moment.

This whole thing has a way to run still. Looks like various parties are awaiting the outcome of certain court processes, but have well advanced plans to make a move at that point. Some of those parties, including the police, are playing cards very close to their chest at present.

[fungus pudding]

Premature political obituaries are littered with historical examples where the opposite has occurred. As for National Judith Collins, Paula Bennett and Michael Woodhouse will not( and can not) tolerate the John Key show going on too long, its simply does not align with their political ambitions.
He will go, or be pushed in late 2016 early 2017.

After watching The Nation this morning I think Little will be the one who goes before the next election. Watching him spluttering through the interview, then watching Robertson in the following segment, it's clear that Robertson can and will upstage him at some point. I'm sure he'll have another go at leadership in the next 18 months or so, and most of the party will back him on the grounds that they have nothing to lose.

[Daytr]

Tend to agree Fungus, Little hasn't made a fist of the leadership & Labour will need to do something in time for a new leader to challenge Key, if he stands for re-election. We may have two different leaders of both major political parties for 2017 & if so I can only see that as a positive for Labour. I may not like Key but he is National's best bet at re-election for a 4th term, at least at this point. Its a long time in the political cycle between now & then though & if Key has any more flag change, panda or ponytail type circuses to come, it could also spell his political downfall as well.

[macduffy]

Yes, plenty of time left for those few Labour MP's who havn't had a crack at leading, to have a turn!

[iceman]

So you are accusing Hager of stealing files or documents? Talk about untrue claims. You may need to look closer to home with accusations like that'

Knowingly receiving stolen goods and using them for financial gain qualifies by my standards